Press Releases, 9/20/2012 | Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Press Release 216/2012
20 September 2012

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Finland’s national human rights situation was completed at Geneva during the 21st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 19 September, when the plenary session of the Council adopted the UPR Working Group report on the review of the situation in Finland.

In conjunction with adoption of the report, a one-hour dialogue took place where UN accredited non-governmental organisations also had the opportunity to speak or send a video message. In Finland’s own opening speech, Permanent Representative Päivi Kairamo thanked all the States that had participated in the review of Finland’s human rights situation. She also stressed the importance of civil society in the debate on the matter. Kairamo stated that Finland considers the UPR mechanism an important and constructive instrument for international human rights dialogue. Review between States is also peer learning for promoting the implementation of human rights.

In August the Ministry for Foreign Affairs submitted Finland’s written response concerning recommendations for the development of the country’s national human rights situation to the UN Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The response gave Finland’s position on the recommendations Finland investigated on the basis of the UPR review in May. Out of the 78 recommendations made in the UPR, Finland completely accepted 71 and partially accepted four recommendations.

Having completed the review of Finland, the attention of the Human Rights Council shifts to the national implementation of the recommendations. During the review, Finland undertook to provide a voluntary interim report on the implementation of the recommendations in 2014. Finland’s next UPR review will take place in about four years’ time.